| Montreal, 7/05/1997 – The Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) -- otherwise known as the NAFTA environmental commission -- is holding public consultations in Vancouver for the first time ever on May 14 and 15.
The consultations will focus on three topics relating to the North American environment: the long-range transport of air pollutant, voluntary compliance with environmental laws and environmental networking among the North American communities.
The Commission, composed of a Council, a Secretariat and a Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC), was created in 1994 by the environmental side accord to NAFTA. Its goal is to boost regional cooperation, promote the effective enforcement of environmental laws and prevent potential conflicts resulting from environmental problems.
The Council asked the JPAC, made up of 15 representatives from Canada, Mexico and the U.S., to organize the public consultations. The Council is formed by the highest environmental authority in each NAFTA country: Sergio Marchi, Canada’s Environmental Minister, Ma. Julia Carabias, Mexico’s Secretary of Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries and Carol Browner, the Chief Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Academics, environmentalists, representatives of industry and non-governmental groups, educators and other members of the public were invited to register as participants for the Vancouver public consultation, as well as observers for the Public Session of JPAC, to be held May 16. The media highlights are:
Press conference, May 14: 9:00 a.m. Landmark Hotel (1400 Robson Street)
Plenary, May 15: 3:30 p.m. Landmark Hotel (1400 Robson Street)
JPAC Public Session, May 16: 10:00 a.m. Landmark Hotel (1400 Robson Street) |
